Here be thoughts, opinions, laments and rants about the loss of identity facing the western Christian church, particularly the Evangelical Church. Our false self – the Church culture – has become so familiar that we have come to believe this is who we are: an information downloads & indoctrination place, a get-your-ticket-to-heaven-here place, an activities galore but no social justice gospel place, a flag waving but don’t grapple with the Sermon on the Mount place, a my-orthodoxy-is-better-than-your-orthodoxy place, a casting out the sick & catering to those who believe they are well place…..We have been reduced to a country club of creeds that bolsters the ins and judges the outs.
But that’s not who we are meant to be.
We are a Living Entity, the Body of Christ. Henri Nouwen has said that Jesus was not comely and neither is his Church but I will add that because of Jesus we are also the most beautiful thing on earth. As the beloved disciple wrote, we are like him in this world. We are his Body now, to be broken and given for the world. We can reveal the welcome of God to all. This blog will record observations and encounters and wrestle with some ideas that can help us to recover these truths about ourselves and find our true face.
Ok, besides all my angsty thoughts and questions I love to read continually, write when I can, adopt ex-racing greyhounds, and seek the Holy in the ordinary rhythms of my life. I love stories and have run a film discussion series in my church and in the community because the beauty of God shows up absolutely everywhere and anywhere if we have eyes to see! I love to study and contemplate historical theology and spiritual theology as well as the larger story of the scriptures.
After years of a religious life measured by pragmatism and propositions, I am finally seeing that Truth is a Person. I am learning to nourish (not deny) my inner Contemplative and to recover and nurture the too-often-silenced presence of the feminine Image of God in myself and in the church. I am a connoisseur of good coffee, good wine, good chocolate, good books and especially, good friends.
Oh, and I have the bad habit of editing a post 10 times after it’s posted, both for clarity and quality so what you read today might look really different tomorrow.
Email me at: eharout at gmail dot com
(Image Header designed by Lauren Haroutunian adapted from artwork by Marcia Hinds. Used with permission.)
November 10, 2008 at 9:08 pm
Hi old friend. Wondering how you are these days and where life has taken you.
We are in Seattle WA, interesting life we’ve lived, very unexpected yet an adventure as Steve himself promised me.
Would love to reconnect with you.
Denisa
sdkerr5@yahoo.com
November 12, 2008 at 8:35 am
Adventures are good. Sending you an email! xoxoxo
February 19, 2009 at 9:28 pm
just thought i’d say hello. i’m armenian as well and from the christian feminism blog.
September 6, 2009 at 8:10 pm
I have just recently stumbled upon your blog and web-site. I really connect with what you are saying about health care and also about the church. Well said. Keep up the good work.